Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. (File photo by BEN STANSALL / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. tagged as “contemptible” and “condemnable” the abandonment of the 22 crew members of a Filipino fishing boat following a “collision” with a Chinese fishing vessel in Recto Bank, also known as Reed Bank, in the West Philippine Sea.
“I take my cue from Defense Sec. Lorenzana. What is contemptible and condemnable is the abandonment of the crew to the elements,” the country’s top diplomat said over Twitter on Wednesday.
Chinese vessel sinks Philippine boat in Recto Bank —Lorenzana I TAKE MY CUE FROM DEFENSE SEC LORENZANA. WHAT IS CONTEMPTIBLE AND CONDEMNABLE IS THE ABANDONMENT OF THE CREW TO THE ELEMENTS. VIETNAM'S RESCUE WILL BE THE BASIS OF ENHANCED VIENTAM-PH MILITARY COOPERATION.
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) June 12, 2019
Locsin was referring to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana who said that THE Filipino vessel was anchored when a Chinese fishing vessel collided it on Sunday evening, June 9.
READ: China fishing vessel sinks Filipino boat after ‘collision’ in West Philippine Sea
According to Lorenzana, the Chinese vessel left the area, “abandoning the 22 Filipino crewmen to the mercy of the elements.”
A Vietnamese fishing vessel rescued the Filipinos, an act which Locsin said would be “the basis of enhanced Vietnam-PH military cooperation.”
In another tweet, the foreign affairs chief said: “In civilized societies…it is criminal to abandon persons in danger; making no effort at rescue.”
In civilized societies—we can exclude parts of Europe that leave refugees floating in the Mediterranean to die—it is criminal to abandon persons in danger; making no effort at rescue. Only law that judges moral character; condemns inhuman indifference. https://t.co/pL70Ca1IFQ
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) June 12, 2019
“Only law that judges moral character; condemns inhuman indifference,” he added.
(Editor: Alexander T. Magno)